rote

¹ American  

[roht] / roʊt /

adjective

1. proceeding mechanically and repetitiously; being mechanical and repetitious in nature; routine; habitual.

   rote performance;

   rote implementation;

   His behavior became more rote with every passing year.

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noun

1. a fixed, habitual, or mechanical course of procedure; routine.

   the rote of daily living.

idioms

1. by rote, from memory, without thought of the meaning; in a mechanical way.

   to learn a language by rote.

rote ² American  

[roht] / roʊt /

Also rota

noun

Music.

1. crowd.

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rote ³ American  

[roht] / roʊt /

noun

1. the sound of waves breaking on the shore.

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rote ¹ British  

/ rəʊt /

noun

1. a habitual or mechanical routine or procedure

2. by repetition; by heart (often in the phrase learn by rote )

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rote ² British  

/ rəʊt /

noun

1. an ancient violin-like musical instrument; crwth

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rote More Idioms  

1. see by heart (rote).

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Etymology

Origin of rote¹

First recorded in 1300–150; Middle English; of obscure origin

Origin of rote²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rote, rotte, route, a kind of harp, from Old French rote, route “stringed instrument,” from unattested Frankish hrota (compare Old High German hruozza ); akin to crowd ²

Origin of rote³

First recorded in 1600–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old Norse rauta “to roar”

Example Sentences

Despite this sequel’s thin and rote stretches, it once again closes strong with a few images that will stick in your head for at least a week or two.

From Los Angeles Times

With repetition — touring, performing live — songs don’t necessarily become easier for her to emotionally perform, and nor are they ever by rote.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking ahead, rote white-collar work will be “displaced” by work requiring greater human interaction and more decision-making, according to Krishna.

From The Wall Street Journal

I pick up my headpiece; at least my body remembers how to do that by rote.

From Literature

Her eyes dart up and down in a manner that betrays rote memorization, not scholarship.

From The Wall Street Journal